Blank Gameweek 31 Community Special
With just days to go until the dreaded Blank Gameweek 31, the community help you prepare in this article special.
Ben Crellin brought us all the Blank Gameweek 31 permutations throughout January and February. The fixtures have now been confirmed, but the details of the rearranged fixtures won’t be released until after Blank Gameweek 31.
The FA Cup Quarterfinal line-up is complete.
Tottenham vs Newcastle is the sixth and final Gameweek 31 fixture to become a Blank. pic.twitter.com/zfmEB9d92J— Ben Crellin (@BenCrellin) February 28, 2018
Strategy Articles
If you’ve left it late to prepare for the Blank Gameweek 31 and you’re struggling to field XI without a lot of hits, then the latest Fantasy Football Pundits is essential reading. FPL Audit share three different strategies, depending on which chips you have remaining. There’s also contributions from FPL Coach and FPL Herald.
? NEW #FPL ARTICLE ?
3 FPL strategies by the fantastic @FPL_Audit to consider for the Blank Gameweek 31 schedule…https://t.co/DP4bpzghVN
— Fantasy Football Pundits (@FFPundits) March 9, 2018
Snow day today? Confined to the house?
Grab a cuppa and check out my guest article for @SportitoDFS on approaching Blank Gameweek 31
https://t.co/KYUUVkhfGVEnjoy and please RT ☕?❄☃️#FPL #BGW31 #Strategy
— #FPL Coach (@FPLCoach) March 2, 2018
? Analytics showing that people are still Googling this to death – figured I'd update it!
? When is the next double GW?
⚠ When is the next blank GW?
⏳ When will we know more?
? When to play the chips right?? Includes a handy timeline widget!https://t.co/dRGb4RLolF#FPL
— David Munday (@DavidMunday815) March 2, 2018
Player Picks
With only eight teams featuring in Blank Gameweek 31, the pool of potential players is somewhat limited. The community have been busy analysing all of the potential options: the transfer targets have changed considerably following the outcomes of the last three or four gameweeks. Some teams are best to be avoided altogether.
My Analysis on BGW31 #FPL pic.twitter.com/v6BB9n70zl
— ????? ⚡ | ✊?✊? (@FPL_FC) March 6, 2018
#FPL BGW31 options, have I missed anyone? pic.twitter.com/AkGdKDLWS8
— FPL Heisenberg (@FPL_Heisenberg) March 4, 2018
Inspired by @JEgersdorff. A list of players for the #BGW31 sorted by points per match. The red line represents 4 PPM. Players below this, on average, are not worth a hit to get. Also note the form, though. Hits still worth the gamble @andy85wsm? #FPLstats #FPL pic.twitter.com/UWxt525H5e
— Ian ::: FPL Strategic (@FantasianPL) March 6, 2018
Defence
Clean sheets could be hard to come by in Blank Gameweek 31, aside from Liverpool, and the attack looks like a better option from Anfield. The community have analysed the potential options for our back lines.
https://twitter.com/fplwingback/status/972223724295479296?s=21
https://twitter.com/fpl_fly/status/970966163198042113?s=21
Current implied probability of clean sheets for BGW31:
Liverpool: 57%
Bournemouth: 37%
Stoke: 37%
Huddersfield: 36%
Crystal Palace 33%
Everton: 31%
West Brom: 26%
Watford: 9% pic.twitter.com/AHAxaxghJR— FPL Vader (@FF_Vader) March 6, 2018
Moving Forwards
With many teams decimated by dead wood, that have been held for the blanks, a lot of teams won’t be in a strong state moving forwards to Gameweek 32 and beyond. The community advise whether the wildcard could be the best way of preparing for the season run in. The Gameweek 32 fixtures could dictate the best forward moves.
Seeing a lot of talk of WCs being used in GW32 after BGW31. If your team isn't decimated from BGW31 & the players you have, have alright fixtures, isn't there an argument to play your WC in GW33? This surely mitigates injury/selection risk for the DGW34 playing it as late as poss
— The Editor (@FPLEditor) March 6, 2018
Its LIVE! If you're looking for Blank and Double Gameweek insight, as well as advice about when to use your chips.. then this pod with @BenCrellin is the one for you! #FPL #FPLPodcast #GW26
RTs, Likes (AND SUBSCRIBES) very much appreciated!https://t.co/tDdXDzJq7S
— 3 Amigos #FPL Podcast (@3AmigosFPL) February 1, 2018
Chips
For those holding a full key of chips, the most popular strategies are shared by Ben Crellin. There’s a big window opportunity following Blank Gameweek 31 for potential wildcard planning time.
It makes sense to utilise the "boomerang" aspect of the Free Hit chip:
Either
WC in GW32/33, get loads of DGWers,
FH in BGW 35,
Boomerang back to your DGW team ahead of DGW 37Or
Prepare for the Blanks,
FH in DGW 34,
Boomerang back to your Blank team ahead of BGW 35,
WC in GW36 pic.twitter.com/HLaA43YMkz— Ben Crellin (@BenCrellin) January 10, 2018
Who else thinks it's plausible to use the wildcard straight after #BGW31?
Reasons:
✔Two week Int'l window
✔Don't have to get all DGW34ers
✔Staggered approach
✔Head start from rivals#FPL— FPL Hints (@FPLHints) March 3, 2018
? NEW #FPL VIDEO ?
Q&A episode for #GW30 featuring:
❓ When should we use our remaining chips?
⚠️ More Blank #GW31 preparation!
? Keep or sell Sterling?
✅ & more!➡️ https://t.co/ceIrWYCVHt pic.twitter.com/FLan41DEfU
— FPLtips (@_FPLtips) March 7, 2018
Attack
A number of players are due attacking returns and ought to be considered going forward. Penalty takers offer particular appeal. There was good news for Theo Walcott following a potential injury picked up late on in Gameweek 30, from Ben Dinnery.
⚽️ Fantasy Football Tips #GW30 ⚽️
With one eye firmly on the blanks ahead @KenLyons79 picks his best 11 for GW31 #FPL #planningahead https://t.co/xGjSvwuJiY
— FF247 (@FantasyFooty247) March 8, 2018
BGW31 players who have scored a penalty this season.
Salah (10.6m)
Firmino (9.4m)
Rooney (7.2m)
King (7.0m)
Deeney (6.3m)
Stanislas (5.9m)
Baines (5.6m)
Rodriguez (5.4m)
Mooy (5.3m)
Milivojevic (4.9m)
Van La Parra (4.8m)#fpl— fplkernow (@fplkernow) March 8, 2018
Theo Walcott was struggling with cramp prior to his withdrawal "should be okay" for the trip to Stoke next weekend. Sigurdsson to be assessed – played on after taking a heavy knock on his knee. #EFC
— Ben Dinnery (@BenDinnery) March 10, 2018
Hits
Plenty of managers will be thinking of taking a hit to field more players in Blank Gameweek 31. This can be seen as a potential lesser hit than a -4, if the player brought in has a minimum of 2 appearance points. There will be gains to be made for those who don’t take a hit for this one though. According to Who Got The Assist?, history dictates that we should use caution here.
https://twitter.com/fplpricechanges/status/972446125922881536?s=21
This metaphor may be strange, but…
If you're able to field 11 starting players in BGW31 without a hit, consider that as almost being like another chip in your pocket*
*The above would only be true if you're planning to wildcard immediately afterwards during the int'l break
— FPL Hints (@FPLHints) March 6, 2018
?#fpl post?
A cautionary tale of my (Tom's) blank game week experience last year ? and the lessons we might learn from it ??
Quantity > Quality? https://t.co/exRHT3BYZn— Who Got The Assist? (Tom) (@WGTA_FPL) February 13, 2018
Site Posts
Don’t forget to check out our site articles from earlier this year. There’s plenty to be learnt from the Reverse Fixtures.
⏪ NEW #FPL ARTICLE ⏪
We take a look back, to help move forward with Blank Gameweek 31 planning. With analysis of each fixture, check out the score predictions and transfer tips ⬇️https://t.co/uABTeM1IKg
— Fantasy Football Community (@FFCommunity_) February 27, 2018
? Blank Gameweek 31 Targets ?
There’s just four fixtures confirmed for BGW31. Which players should you be bringing in?
Here are 3️⃣ selections in each position…?https://t.co/oZCcD5HsnF
— Fantasy Football Community (@FFCommunity_) February 17, 2018
